Pineapple Works and Walaber Entertainment have announced that Parking Garage Rally Circuit is coming to Nintendo Switch on June 18. This is the first console release of Parking Garage Rally Circuit following its Steam launch on September 20, 2024.
Retro Arcade-style Rally Racing in repurposed Parking Garages in big cities across the USA
You said “Parking Garage”?
The “Parking Garage Rally Circuit” tour comes into a city, selects a parking garage, and temporarily turns it into an exciting rally course for a week-long competition. Each track in the game is styled as a unique parking garage that has been turned into a race course.
Rally… Circuit?!?
This is a hybrid of Rally and circuit racing. From rally it draws the jumps and “one racer at a time against the clock” time-trial format. However, the tracks are similar to circuit racing, with each race consisting of multiple laps around the same track (the track may change slightly from lap to lap, however) Controls are very tight, simple and arcadey, similar to Mario Kart (accelerate, reverse, steer, drift), but with a bit more dynamic “smash into things” physics.
Seamless Leaderboards
After beating the gold trophy for a course, ghosts from other players just barely ahead of you on the leaderboard are automatically downloaded to race against, getting you into that “just one more” flow as you chase down rivals. Limiting the auto-download rivals to Steam friends only is also an option.
Realtime Multiplayer
Create or join a lobby of up to 8 players for realtime peer-to-peer non-contact racing!
Split-screen Multiplayer
Connect some controllers and relive the glory days of split-screen multiplayer for 2-4 players with contact and non-contact options.
Retro Style
Designed to look and feel like a long lost Sega Saturn game that could have been released in ~1998. This includes low-resolution, low-poly, chunky textures of course, but also extends to the audio, simple interface, and streamlined game scope. Oh, and CHEAT CODES too!
Parking Garage Rally Circuit DX, the expanded version of Parking Garage Rally Circuit, is available now on Wavedash and coming to consoles and PC via Steam in 2026. The game doubles the content of the original release and adds the European Tour, which features 8 multi-story car parks: Paris (Art Car Park), York (York Castle Car Park), Turin (Car Factory), Montpellier (Double Loop), Hamburg (Concert Hall), Copenhagen (Power Plant), Geneva (Parking Tour) and Naples (Cave Park).
These days, it is hard to think about a character more universally beloved than Batman. For almost 100 years, his stories have captivated each generation in new ways. Whether you grew up with the comics or were introduced to the character through Matt Reeves’ The Batman film, everyone has a “core Batman memory.” Those who grew up in the early 2000s and were unable to watch any of the films for a while likely became acquainted with the Batman mythos through the LEGO Batman games from Traveller’s Tales.
LEGO games, over the years, have served as experiences designed for families and young children to play together. This is evident in the overall game quality of these titles, as they’re relatively simplistic platformers at best and monotonous time-wasters at worst. There is no fundamental difference in the gameplay experience between LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues. As such, when Traveler’s Tales announced a new LEGO Batman game that combined elements from throughout the character’s 87-year history, I was cautiously optimistic.
Early gameplay for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knightseemed to indicate that this would be the most ambitious LEGO game to date, as it promised a fully explorable Gotham, 126 costumes, multiple playable characters, and a story that adapts every single Batman movie into one cohesive experience. Certainly, I knew thatthe game would be, at the very least, enjoyable. However, I wanted to see if it could be more than that and if Legacy of the Dark Knight could be a great experience, not just by LEGO standards, but by the standards of the genre at large. After playing the game for myself, I can confidently say that this is one of the best Batman games ever made and is only held back by a few major issues here and there.
Batman Begins
Legacy of the Dark Knight focuses on the entire lifecycle of the titular character, and as such, it starts right at the beginning: with a little boy getting ready to go to the movie theater with his parents, unaware that his life is about to change forever. You play as Bruce Wayne in the moments before this traumatic event, re-experiencing the moments of calm with his parents, in a charming tutorial that introduces the basic LEGO mechanics that you will undoubtedly be more than familiar with at this point.
The first few hours of LEGO Batman are pretty poorly paced, sadly. It takes you through the entire origin story of Batman, including the death of his parents, his brief encounters with the Falcone crime family, his training in the mountains with the League of Shadows, and his eventual decision to “become a bat” and put on the cowl for the first time. These segments introduce players to the gameplay mechanics and to the characters of Bruce Wayne, Ra’s Al Ghul, and Talia Al Ghul. The amount of time that you spend being taught how to play the game before you eventually hear the words “I’m Batman” is frankly staggering. Thankfully, though, the long wait is worth it.
Legacy of the Dark Knight compiles every single Batman movie into one cohesive experience. It starts with Batman Begins, then transitions to The Batman (2022), Batman (1989) and Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, and finally The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Rather than trying to individually adapt each film with different versions of Batman, it instead justifies it as one version of the character that is constantly growing. Each chapter highlights a specific era in the character’s life, and after one ends, there is an in-game time jump to justify the shift in characters.
I absolutely adored this concept, as it gave me a chance to see Batman grow as a character in real time, in ways that few adaptations are able to capture. You see Bruce evolve from someone more angry and serious to the slightly more lighthearted member of the so-called “Batfamily.” This evolution applies to the other playable characters, such as Jim Gordon, Robin (Dick Grayson), Catwoman, and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), among others. In Catwoman’s case, she’s first introduced as a foil to Batman and an uneasy ally. However, in the next chapter, they’re on a first-name basis and far closer with each other than previously. It feels like a natural progression, and one that feels even more satisfying if you’re a fan of the broader mythos.
In general, countless nods and easter eggs signal a great admiration for not just Batman films, but also his comics and the broader film medium, too. Each chapter starts with an intro that uses the music from the film that it’s based on, with Chapter 4 starting with a sequence based on Batman: The Animated Series. There are references to, of all things, American Psycho and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which older fans are sure to get a kick out of. In general, the writing has the same wit to it as other LEGO games, meaning that regardless of your age, you will get a kick out of at least one of the jokes.
At its core, the narrative, writing, and characters are all in service of creating the ultimate love letter to the Batman character. Regardless of how you became interested in the character, be it the comics or the Nolan films, there will be something here to appeal to you. On the one hand, this means that this is a must-play if you’re a Batman fan of any age. On the other hand, though, there are some flaws with this approach, as sometimes the overemphasis on nostalgia can get a bit distracting.
Much like older LEGO games based on specific film franchises, it adapts the original movies almost 1:1, with Traveler’s Tales’ execution here being admittedly more elaborate than previous instances. However, what this means is that it is almost too reliant on the stories of the films, at the expense of the comics themselves. For example, rather than Talia Al Ghul being of Chinese and Arabic nationality, she speaks with a French accent because the actress who played her in The Dark Knight Rises was also French. No other Robins or Batgirls make an appearance aside from Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, as both are the only iterations of the characters that have debuted on the silver screen. As such, if you’re a fan of Jason Todd, for instance, you’re fresh out of luck.
While this doesn’t ruin the overall experience of Legacy of the Dark Knight, it does mean that some elements of that legacy are left by the wayside in favor of specifically paying homage to the movies. However, in the grand scheme of things, these issues are fairly minor since most fans of the character were introduced to him via said films. At the end of the day, as previously stated, you will adore this game and find a reference that clicks with you regardless of how you became a Batman fan. Most importantly, much like the initial LEGO Batman games released throughout the 2000s, this game is clearly partly meant to introduce younger audiences to the character in the most family-friendly way possible. In that respect, Legacy of the Dark Knight more than succeeds at its goals.
So, while the story pulls elements from the Batman movies and delivers those narrative beats in an unorthodox way, does the gameplay try to do anything new mechanically compared to previous LEGO games? Thankfully, yes, it does, but not without flaw.
Absolute Warrior
It’s impossible to talk about Legacy of the Dark Knight without mentioning the most iconic superhero game franchise of all time: the Batman: Arkham games. Said games defined an entire era of licensed games focused on superheroes, with games being based on other heroes shamelessly adapting their mechanics until Marvel’s Spider-Man released in 2018. As such, it is perhaps unsurprising that the game dedicated to adapting Batman’s past also adapts the gameplay style of the most beloved series based on the character.
If you’ve played any Batman Arkham or LEGO game, you know exactly what to expect from Legacy of the Dark Knight. Combat requires you to take advantage of your gadgets and combos to either defeat an enemy through whittling down their health or by using a takedown gained by a Focus meter to instantly knock them out (or break them apart, since all LEGO minifigures break apart upon defeat). If any enemy goes to attack you, you can counter with the simple press of the Triangle/Y-button, and if you prefer to go for a more methodical approach, stealth is a viable option.
In between encounters, you’ll be jumping from platform to platform and building objects using LEGO pieces to progress. There are plenty of collectibles to find in each level, which can be used to add more goodies to your Batcave. Additionally, there are also secrets to be found throughout Gotham itself, such as the typical Riddler collectibles from the Arkham games, as well as some other side quests here and there. These can be completed to get the most important collectible of all: different costumes and Batmobiles. The latter of which can be used to traverse the environment in a way that focuses on speed over combat, which immediately puts it over the combat-focused Batmobile of Batman: Arkham Knight.
On the one hand, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight executes its gameplay formula very well. It manages to adapt the Arkham formula into a more cohesive package, which makes it a bit more accessible for younger audiences. Additionally, there are difficulty levels for those hoping for a more easier or more difficult experience, which I’d never complain about. Most of all, the massive Gotham map and the way better handling of the Batmobile as a tool for traversal rather than a form of combat means that it does certain aspects better than Arkham itself.
Further, I absolutely adored the customization options that are offered. There are a staggered 126 costumes you can unlock for not just Batman, but for every other playable character. Each suit is designed to pay homage to a specific era in its respective character’s history, and can range from easily recognizable to downright obscure. One of my favorites was a costume modeled after the ongoing Absolute Batman comic book run, which reinvents the character entirely. The fact that the team included recent suits further helped this game go above and beyond in comparison to other LEGO games. This also applied to the Batmobile options; if you have a favorite Batmobile or Batbike, then there’s a chance that it shows up in Legacy of the Dark Knight.
However, at times, it feels a little too reliant on the formulas of the Arkham franchise and other LEGO games. The game rarely tries to do anything new that separates it from these games. The combat system, the stealth, and even the collectibles are all lifted 1:1 from the Arkham franchise. Further, there aren’t really any new changes to the typical LEGO game formula. I haven’t played a new LEGO game since DC Super Villains, and save for the more complex levels and overworld, there isn’t really a fundamental difference in style. As such, if you are already very familiar with both LEGO and Arkham, then there really isn’t anything that justifies paying the $70 price of admission to get a game that you have technically already played.
Unlike other LEGO games, though, the number of playable characters is severely lessened. Rather than hundreds of different characters to choose from, you can only pick from a list of six, other than Batman. While it does mean that each character that is present has capabilities that are entirely unique to them, it also means that you can’t play as any villains or other major characters from the world of Batman, which makes the post-game feel way less exciting than other LEGO Batman games. Sure, more characters will be released post-launch, but the fact that Harley Quinn isn’t even in the game by default, while the very first LEGO Batman had an entire campaign dedicated to the villains, feels like a downgrade. It doesn’t help that there is an overabundance of technical issues, like crashes, physics glitches, and long loading screens.
At the end of the day, though, these issues will only apply to those who are massive fans of the character and for those who have played either the Batman: Arkham games or other LEGO games at length. For younger audiences and families, for whom LEGO games are always designed first and foremost, then adapting the Arkham series into an extremely ambitious LEGO release is more than enough to satisfy them. Plus, there are plenty of surprise gameplay segments here and there that are sure to charm even the most “hardcore” of gamers.
So, is Legacy of the Dark Knight able to deliver a great experience and go above and beyond the standards that previous LEGO games have set? The answer is both yes and no.
Something in the Way
When I was a kid, one of my first exposures to the Batman character was through LEGO Batman: The Videogame on PlayStation 3. I vividly remember playing through both the Hero and Villain campaigns with my dad, trying to get all the Minikits and unlock one of the game’s many secret characters. This experience would lead me to watch all of the Batman movies, play all the games, and read the comics. Nowadays, Batman stands as one of my favorite characters in all of fiction. The best thing I can say about LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is that it reminded me why that is.
Legacy of the Dark Knight isn’t the best Batman game, nor is it the definitive Batman game. Its story adapts the entirety of the movies, at the expense of the comic book stories that fans have grown to love over the years. The gameplay is an almost identical replica of the Batman: Arkham games, without adding anything new to either its formula or the traditional foundation of other LEGO games. Additionally, the limited roster of characters and the numerous technical issues mean that it may be harder to justify purchasing Legacy of the Dark Knight compared to the games it’s based on. However, Legacy of the Dark Knight is worth the price of admission alone due to how it succeeds as a tribute rather than the “perfect Batman game.”
Any fan of Batman will find something to love in this experience. The story, despite being an adaptation, manages to combine each film into one coherent experience in a way that is genuinely brilliant. Further, the writing and characters maintain that typical LEGO charm, and there are plenty of jokes that will get a laugh out of any player, no matter their age. The gameplay, while pulled directly from Arkham, is simplified enough that younger audiences will quickly be able to wrap their head around it. Though more hardcore players will find enjoyment in the surprise gameplay sequences throughout. Plus, the abundance of customization options and the great use of the Batmobile mean that Legacy of the Dark Knight improves upon aspects of the Arkham series.
At the end of the day, while a hardcore Batman fan may take issue with some aspects, the joy that the game provides more than makes up for those problems. If you love the character as much as I do, then you owe it to yourself to play Legacy of the Dark Knight for yourself, as it is the ultimate love letter to one of the best characters ever created. For kids and families, this is even more of a no-brainer, as this is the best possible way to introduce new audiences to the Caped Crusader. All in all, while this may not have been the Batman game I needed, it was the one that we deserved as an experience that truly captures his iconic legacy.
Disclaimer: LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was reviewed on PlayStation 5.
Netflix has announced that Devil May Cry will receive a third and final season. The renewal comes hot on the heels of last month’s release of Devil May Cry Season 2.
Adi Shankar, the creator and showrunner of the Devil May Cry series released this statement with the announcement:
For those of you who have been paying attention to the episode names, I have been showing you the structure the entire time.
This was always Dante’s Divine Comedy with guns and a red coat.
Season 1 was Inferno.
Season 2 was Purgatorio.
Season 3 will be Paradiso.
These three seasons make up “The Force Edge Saga”. Since inception, “The Force Edge Saga” was designed as a movie trilogy disguised as a television series.
Shankar and Studio Mir produced Devil May Cry Season 2, all eight episodes of which premiered on Netflix on May 12 2026. It received critical acclaim, with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, but has received more mixed reception from fans.
The Devil May Cry animated series premiered on April 3, 2025 on Netflix. Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’” is the opening theme song. Studio Mir and Adi Shankar produced the eight-episode season, and the series will have multiple seasons. The Japanese cast for the Devil May Cry anime includes Toshiyuki Morikawa as Dante, Fumiko Orikasa as Lady, and Hiroaki Hirata as Vergil. The English cast is as follows:
Bungie has released a new trailer previewing its climactic “Monument of Triumph” update for Destiny 2, which serves as the game’s final live-service content update on June 9. Originally planned as the Shadow and Order update, the Monument of Triumph update celebrates Destiny 2 with major sandbox changes and content additions, including Sparrow Racing League, Exotic overhauls, major changes to the Director and Portal, loot adjustments and changes to Raids and Dungeons, and much more.
Destiny 2 will remain playable just like the original Destiny, but there will be no content updates after this update, and communications from Bungie will enter a “hibernation” until the studio has more information to share about the franchise. Fans are encouraged to read up on the extensive patch notes and changelog on Bungie’s official website. Considering there’s 71 pages of patch notes, it’s certainly worth reading if you’re a Destiny 2 fan.
In case you missed it, you can read Bungie’s message regarding Destiny 2 below:
For almost twelve years, we have had the joy and honor to explore the Destiny universe with you all. Through all the ups and downs, surprises and triumphs, building Destiny alongside our players has been a monumental privilege. While our love for Destiny 2 has not changed, it has become clear that after The Final Shape, we have reached the time for our shared worlds, and Destiny, to live beyond Destiny 2.
As our focus turns towards a new beginning for Bungie, we will begin work incubating our next games. To that end, on June 9, 2026, we will release the final live-service content update for Destiny 2 to begin that new journey as a studio.
Though active development may be concluding, we will ensure that Destiny 2 remains playable, just as the original Destiny is today. Many changes in this final update will aim to ensure that Destiny 2 is a welcoming place for players to return to.
We’re proud of Destiny 2, the places it took us, and the legacy it has created. Because of you all, our universe is vast, built on years of shared stories, adventures, and victories. From the Cosmodrome to the Pale Heart to the Lawless Frontier, we have forged life-long memories and friendships with you all.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made that journey with us.
From the deepest part of our hearts, thank you, and we’ll see you in the stars.
Destiny 2 is available now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Riot Games has announced that, alongside Senna‘s release in 2XKO on June 9, new character Thresh will also launch on the same day. A gameplay trailer was released alongside the announcement.
Thresh will be 2XKO‘s fourth new character of the year, with two more still to come according to 2026’s roadmap. Future updates will add local duos, spirit blossom skins, a spirit blossom event, a new fuse, season 2 + a rank reset, a duo finder, a Blood Moon stage, a new summer event, new skins, and a new stage.
Welcome to 2XKO, the free-to-play fighting game from the makers of League of Legends and VALORANT.
2V2 COMBAT
In 2XKO, good teamwork makes the difference between victory and defeat. Fight solo to control both champions on your team, or grab a friend to duo with. Switch up your game every match with Fuses, powerful playstyle modifiers that change the rules your team plays by.
LEGENDARY FIGHTERS
League of Legends’ iconic champions take the stage with fresh movesets inspired by the MOBA and reimagined for fighting games. Immerse yourself in the world of Runeterra with beautifully crafted stages, cutting-edge 2D graphics, and original music tracks that bring your battles to life.
LOBBIES & MATCHMAKING
Step into a virtual arcade where your next duo partner—or rival—awaits. Ranked, Casual, and Private lobbies let you play your way whether you wanna compete, spectate, or just mash. Plus, with best-in-class rollback netcode and anti-cheat systems, 2XKO delivers fair, lag-free gameplay every time you queue up.
Konami has released eFootball Kick-Off! digitally and exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of this year’s World Cup in North America. As previously announced, eFootball Kick-Off! is the latest gam e in the eFootball soccer game series, originally known as Pro Evolution Soccer.
eFootball Kick-Off! is available in the Nintendo eShop for $19.99. Early purchases include Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona, 2015) as a bonus player for the game’s World Tour mode. The bonus is available to all players who purchase the game by December 31 at 14:59 (UTC).
In World Tour, players can build an original team and enter tournaments around the world. There’s also Quick Match and the “International Cup” mode, which will be available for free with a post-launch update. In International Cup, players can pick their favorite national team and claim the ultimate international prize. On Nintendo Switch 2, eFootball Kick-Off! also takes advantage of GameShare for local play with up to four players.
Here’s an overview of the game, via Konami and the game’s official website:
Originally known as PES (Pro Evolution Soccer), the ultimate soccer action game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2.
Experience the excitement of every goal- solo or with everyone! Begin your soccer journey with eFootball Kick-Off!
Take to the field your way.
Build your dream soccer club and compete worldwide in “World Tour” mode! Win matches to acquire new players or use Coins earned through matches to sign legendary players.
In the “International Cup” mode, feel the excitement of soccer’s ultimate festival, held every four years, as national teams battle for global supremacy.
Or, enjoy beginner-friendly modes like six-a-side soccer that creates plenty of goal-scoring opportunities, and the Rank system, where your performance is evaluated and allows you to step up as you improve.
Experience the passion and excitement of soccer, anytime, anywhere—solo or with friends, offline or online.
Clear River Games has announced that Beep-developed “cute ’em up” games Cotton Reboot! and Cotton Reboot! High Tension! are coming to the west on October 22. Cotton Reboot! will be available physically and digitally for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. Cotton Reboot! High Tension! will be available digitally and physically for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, while the PlayStation 4 version is digital-only. More details about the physical releases will come at a later date.
Here’s an overview of each title, via Clear River Games:
Cotton Reboot!
Defining the cute ‘em up genre since 1991, Cotton the witch captured players’ hearts and tested their resolve as she became a beloved mascot of the genre, seeking out her beloved sweet Willow treats. Now returning in Cotton Reboot!, players will be reintroduced to one of Japan’s favourite cute ’em up titles, this time in either HD or the iconic pixel perfect graphics thanks to the HD Reboot mode or X68000 original mode.
To set the tone for Cotton’s adventure with her fairy friend Silk, players can choose the original X68000 soundtrack or a remixed one when the game launches on Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5. Easy to play yet difficult to master, Cotton Reboot! is a must-play for seasoned and new fans of the cute ‘em up genre.
Cotton Reboot! High Tension!
First released five years ago, Cotton Reboot! High Tension! is the second instalment in the Reboot series by Beep, developed by Studio Siesta/Rocket Engine. Far from being the sweet treats Cotton set out to recover in Cotton Reboot!, in Cotton Reboot! High Tension! the dark force is a Willow that’s taken human form. It looks like you can have too much sugar as this Willow is evil personified!
Building on the gameplay of Cotton Reboot!, players will recognise classic abilities such as Fire Dragon and Lighting in Cotton Reboot! High Tension!, but they will also find new mechanics to master. High Tension sees enemy attacks become more extreme, but in turn players will be able to harness powerful hidden magic to boost their score. Plus the Fever system of Cotton Reboot! makes a comeback, only this time bigger and better as Willow Fever.
Drecom has launched its official website celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Wizardry RPG series. The 45th anniversary website includes a special message and media interview with Wizardry series creator Robert Woodhead, which was published on Japanese gaming media outlet Game*Spark. A new official YouTube channel for the Wizardry website is also open.
Get the full details below, courtesy of Drecom:
A variety of initiatives to celebrate the 45th anniversary are now underway, kicking off with the launch of the special website!
In September 2026, Wizardry, a legendary series beloved by countless RPG fans, will celebrate its milestone 45th anniversary. To commemorate this special occasion with fans around the world and to forge a path toward the series’ future, the 45th Anniversary Special Website has officially launched today! Throughout this anniversary year, the website will serve as a hub to deliver various special projects and the latest news regarding the series.
To mark the beginning of the celebration, we have established the official Wizardry YouTube channel today, featuring a video message from Mr. Robert Woodhead, one of the game’s original creators.
Additionally, a special interview with him has been published on the gaming media outlet Game*Spark.
Please stay tuned for a wide range of exciting developments and updates as we continue to celebrate our 45th anniversary.
A Special Message to the Fans from Robert Woodhead is Here!
To kick off the 45th anniversary, we have received a special video message dedicated to fans in Japan and all around the world from co-creator Robert Woodhead, one of the brilliant minds who brought this masterpiece to life. In the video, he shares his passionate thoughts on the journey of Wizardry—which began as a small computer game and went on to dramatically change his own life—as well as his deep gratitude to the fans who continue to love the series.
Special Interview with Robert Woodhead is Now Live!
A special interview article with Robert Woodhead has been published on the gaming media outlet Game*Spark, operated by IID, Inc.
This in-depth interview is packed with exclusive stories you won’t find anywhere else. It showcases his profound love for the series, his trust and respect for the next generation of creators, and his vision for the future of the Wizardry franchise.
A link to the article is available on the special website, so please take your time and enjoy it along with the video message.
Drecom’s dungeon RPG Wizardry Variants Daphne, one of the latest entries from the Wizardry series, received a manga adaptation this past October on Drecom’s DRE Comics manga website. Noriyuki Fujisawa draws the Wizardry Variants Daphne manga and Toshikiri Hamamura writes the scripts.
Belkin has announced and released its all-new Charging Grip and Travel Bag for the Nintendo Switch 2, the latest additions to its expanding collection of accessories. The two new accessories are available in stylish black, lilac, and olive colorways.
The Belkin Charging Grip for Switch 2 features a magnetic 10K power bank that snaps on and charges via an integrated 30W USB-C cable, and the bank can easily pop off when players want to lighten the load. The power bank can recharge the Switch 2 up to 1.5 times on a single charge, and the battery status is displayed on an integrated LCD screen. The modular grip has an ergonomic design that lets players remove the Joy-Con 2 controllers without taking off the grips, and the grip is also dock and kickstand compatible.
Further, the new Travel Bag fits seamlessly with the Charging Grip for on-the-go gaming. The Travel Bag includes a padded compartment for Switch 2 with a velcro strap that keeps the console secure and scratch-free. Inside, the main storage section fits a Switch 2 Pro Controller, charger, and other large accessories. There’s also a mesh accessory pocket for cables, ear buds and other small accessories, along with a built-in game card slot for up to 10 games. The bag also has a grab handle and shoulder strap that adjusts for carry over either shoulder.
The Belkin Charging Grip and Travel Bag for Switch 2 is available on belkin.com, Amazon, and select retailers worldwide. The Charging Grip is available for $99.99, while the Travel Bag is available for $49.99. The full collection from Belkin can be browsed at https://www.belkin.com/products/nintendo-switch-2-accessories/.
Tales of Arise arrived in 2021 as one of the most ambitious games in the franchise, and in my opinion, it earned every bit of the hype it had. JRPGs have been getting their due more than ever in recent years, both through the community’s own outreach and through better localization in the West, and Tales, a historically respected series, chose this entry to swing for the fences. Major graphical improvements, a heavier story, pre-launch demos that delivered on every promise, and a finished product that lived up to all of it turned Tales of Arise into one of the most anticipated and best-received JRPGs of its year.
Now in 2026, the Nintendo Switch 2 version has collected the base Tales of Arise game, the Beyond the Dawn expansion, and the cosmetic bundles into the most complete version yet. The question worth asking is whether the port itself does justice to a game this good, and the short answer is mostly, with some caveats.
What Tales of Arise Plays Like
Tales of Arise is an action JRPG with a unique combat system built around charging an energy bar that lets the player use special artes that combo across characters to finish enemies with style and precision. The complexity of this battle system doesn’t quite reach the level of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, but it goes as deep as you’re willing to dig, yielding combos in the hundreds. The game features six playable characters, with four staying on the field and two in reserves that can finish attacks or break enemy attack chains.
Each character also has a dense skill tree with new unlockable artes and stat boosts, and completing each ring of the tree gives a significant boost to a specific stat. Some rings require specific actions in combat or exploration to unlock. All characters are fully controllable, but the AI for those accompanying the player is excellent, as they can be summoned at any moment to use a special attack or even take over the controls outright.
Even so, the game offers countless challenges, so don’t count on simply rolling over enemies to advance the story — without the necessary grind, the player will have a hard time, especially against bosses, who have extremely potent finishing moves. The game makes it very clear that you need to grow as an individual to face the obstacles ahead, especially in the main dungeons, where enemies block doors, cut off paths, or even ambush the player to prevent advancing without proper training. I’d recommend using every tool the game gives you to avoid unnecessary frustration, since the game both offers and encourages them — through crafting equipment and armor and through side quests with generous rewards and recovery items.
A World Worth Exploring
Stepping away from combat, the most obvious point to comment on is exploration itself, which is one of the most refreshing things in a JRPG in recent years. The maps aren’t necessarily large, but they’re detailed and full of life. Despite the relative linearity, the game lets you explore freely until near the final act, when it temporarily closes off to focus on the story. Each kingdom has a different biome, from arid volcanic lands to frozen tundras and rainy swamps. Honestly, the game really doesn’t disappoint in how interesting the world it places you in can be. The cities, despite the context of social oppression, feel human. They don’t feel like simple waypoints on the map, especially thanks to the generous count of optional missions in each.
The optional content is more substantial than it gets credit for. The fishing system (inevitable in games of the genre) isn’t necessarily a particularly deep point, but it is definitely a fun minigame that can be revisited at various points of the game. Beyond that, at countless points on the map, there are campsites, where you can revisit story moments, have exclusive conversations with other characters that increase intimacy between the protagonist and the respective character, and, when resting to recover energy, you can cook with ingredients found throughout the game, preparing dishes for all characters that give temporary stat boosts. These can give even more if prepared with specific characters, and can unlock even more exclusive scenes.
A Heavy Story in a Bright World
Arise‘s story is by far one of the biggest highlights of the genre in recent years. Despite the colorful and vibrant world, the narrative is thematically heavy with themes of racism, slavery, and abuse. The protagonist himself starts off working ceaselessly as a slave, his head inside a helmet that prevents him from even knowing his own face. The game shows up close what living that unhappy reality is like, and by a twist of fate, allows Alphen to seek and fight for his freedom. It’s then that he begins to meet, one by one, his new friends and allies in the fight against oppression, beginning with Shionne, a beautiful young woman being held prisoner by a mysterious government external to the planet itself. This giant planet hanging in the sky is seen right from the opening of Arise, judging the protagonist at every moment.
Shionne is as strange as the protagonist. While Alphen feels no pain, everything Shionne touches is brutally injured by her “thorns”, a malevolent force that lives inside her and prevents her from having a normal life. With this bizarre connection, they make a pact to topple the oppressive governments and recover a magical artifact that can both heal her and free the people of Dahna, the planet they live on. Shionne hands Alphen a flaming sword that accompanies them during the journey and lets him, with immense astral force, take on the great lords, each with their own equally powerful astral weapon.
As mentioned earlier, the main party consists of six characters with a heavier reality than the last. There’s Law, tortured and manipulated his entire life; Rinwell, hunted for her magical powers; Kisara, commander of the forces of a peaceful country with a cruel past; and Dohalim, a lonely lord weighed down by immense guilt, each of them brings their own weight to the story and complements what’s already incredible. The character evolution here is unbelievable, especially highlighted by the “skits” unlocked throughout the storytelling of their day-to-day adventures together. It’s uncommon to find games that explore the relationships of their protagonists so deeply, but like other titles in recent years, Tales of Arise does this masterfully and surprisingly closes its story, leaving a tightness in your heart.
Art, Animation, and a Killer Soundtrack
The artistic work in Tales of Arise is extremely praiseworthy. Graphics and lighting were unbelievably well optimized for the PlayStation 4 at original launch, with frame rates nearing 60 on PS4. At no moment did the game’s visuals disappoint, especially in its cutscenes, which contain absurd motion capture for the anime visual style. Each biome is unique, and the character designs are magnificent. It’s also impossible not to comment on the scenes animated by Ufotable (both for openings and for key moments of the game), which make the game even more special. The soundtrack is highly satisfying, with the two openings and the closing (by Ayaka and Kankaku Piero) deserving every accolade for their presentation.
As the only real negative for the base game, I’d point to the last two dungeons, which are, for the most part, extremely repetitive, creatively poor, and unnecessarily long (this last point especially for the final dungeon). The impression the game gives is that they were placed only to extend the last section and justify the hours of dialogue before the final boss, which, on their own, aren’t a problem, but ended up too concentrated in a single moment. A better distribution could indeed have been done in that final stretch. The same complaint carries into Beyond the Dawn, where the DLC has its own version of the problem in its closing hours.
Beyond the Dawn Is a Smaller, More Intimate Return
Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn presents a more focused narrative compared to the main game, but that’s exactly what to expect from a DLC. It isn’t about eclipsing the grandeur of the original story; on the contrary, it’s about enriching the already vibrant Tales universe. For fans who fell in love with the world of Tales of Arise the first time around, this DLC is a perfect opportunity to dive back in. It beautifully expands the lore, offering insights and adding depth to the universe I came to love. It feels like a sincere epilogue, a chance to linger a little longer in a world that is as rich as it is fascinating.
The Beyond the Dawn expansion brings players back to the captivating world of Tales of Arise. After the tumultuous battle for the fate of two worlds, Alphen and his party meet Nazamil, the young daughter of a Renan Lord and a Dahnan. Her story is a crucial addition, raising a fundamental question: can the six heroes change the destiny of a girl fated to fall under the curse of the mask? The expansion is a substantial addition to the game. It includes a complete, satisfying narrative, full of new dungeons and subquests that delve into the adventures of the party members. The DLC also offers special goodies, including six additional costumes, weapons, and content centered on the hero and heroine. The package provides additional items and complete fishing equipment, enhancing the gameplay experience.
Beyond the Dawn stands out for its commitment to the series’ lore. It isn’t just a gameplay extension or a simple additional story. It’s a thoughtful expansion that respects the depth and complexity of the original narrative. The addition of new characters and subplots feels natural, blending perfectly with the elements I already knew and loved. Although some may point out that this DLC’s scope is smaller compared to the main game, that’s exactly what makes it charming. It offers a more intimate story, focusing on nuanced character interactions and deepening my understanding of the world’s dynamics. It’s a celebration of what made the original game great that still introduces new elements to keep the experience engaging.
How the Switch 2 Port Holds Up
The Switch 2 version of Tales of Arise runs at 1080p both docked and handheld, targets 30fps for gameplay, and pushes event scenes up to 60fps. This is plenty playable, but five years after the original was hitting near-60 on PS4 in some scenes, capping the new hardware’s version of a frantic action JRPG at 30 feels more like a budget call than a hardware one. The lack of any selectable graphics or performance mode underlines it. Combat itself stays readable and responsive, which is the most important thing for a game built around combo strings, but the cap of 30 FPS is the cap.
Handheld is where the port flatters itself most. The 1080p screen pulls the cel-shaded art together cleanly, the Ufotable cutscenes look gorgeous at native resolution, and the 30fps target stops registering after the first hour or two. Docked is where the trade-offs sharpen, as the image softens, pop-in becomes more visible as buildings and NPCs materialize during traversal, and the port reveals itself as a series of small compromises on a larger display.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re someone picking up Tales of Arise for the first time, especially if portability is a draw, the Switch 2 version is still an easy recommendation. If you already finished it on PS5 or PC, the port doesn’t justify a re-buy on technical grounds, but the bundled Beyond the Dawn content does if you skipped the DLC the first time. I can’t say this is the most striking the game has ever looked, but it’s a complete package that still holds up in 2026.
Tales of Arise is one of the video games that can be called art. Everything here is well orchestrated, from soundtrack to visual style to its story and very enjoyable gameplay, and finishing it leaves the kind of tightness in the heart that wishes for more. Beyond the Dawn extends that feeling without trying to eclipse it. Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition is the most complete way to experience both. It isn’t the most technically polished version of the package, but if you’ve been waiting for portable access — or if you missed Arise the first time around — this is the easiest door into one of the strongest JRPGs of its generation.
Disclaimer: Bandai Namco provided a Nintendo Switch 2 copy of Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition for review purposes.
Tales of Arise is an action JRPG with a unique combat system built around charging an energy bar that lets the player use special artes that combo across characters to finish enemies with style and precision. The complexity of this battle system doesn’t quite reach the level of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, but it goes as deep as you’re willing to dig, yielding combos in the hundreds. The game features six playable characters, with four staying on the field and two in reserves that can finish attacks or break enemy attack chains.
